The world's No1 Test side are set to lose their status to England if the hosts, who currently lead the four-match series 2-0, maintain that margin in winning the series. England's superb form has coincided with India's ongoing struggles and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side have not been spared by the media at home.

The Times of India said: "Thousands of those who saw India's craven surrender at Trent Bridge on Monday will find it hard to believe that this is really the world's No1 Test team.

"Still, India were No1 on the charts. And the England series was the acid test. So, how did the 'champions' approach the challenge for the crown? With total lack of preparation, physically and mentally, and without the requisite hunger to remain No1. They carried some players with niggles and injuries, and some others, like Harbhajan Singh, by virtue of past reputation.

"While India have been without Virender Sehwag, a key player, and have also missed Zaheer Khan and Gautam Gambhir for most of this series, West Indies under Clive Lloyd and the Aussies under Steve Waugh have also missed key players from time to time, but they didn't simply throw in the towel. The truth is that this Indian team doesn't seem to have a champion's strength of character."

The Hindu were equally damning of India's display, with their headline stating "India crashes to an embarrassing defeat" and the story lamenting "a crushing, mortifying defeat in the second Test at Trent Bridge, both the manner and the magnitude ill-befitting a team ranked No1."